Ki Tisa

From "Metaparshiyot 5758" by Rabbi David Wolfe-Blank z"l

"Ki Tisa is the most varied and interesting parashah in the Torah, in my opinion. Full of themes and sub-themes, many dealing with issues of national emergence, early crises and turning points: it also includes models of a variety of spiritual experiences possible within Judaism.

"The parashah begins with a survey-census to count the people. A half of a Shekel per person was taken and then these were counted. Further descriptions of Sanctuary odds and ends are included such as the copper washing tub, as well as instructions for keeping Shabbat across the generations.

"The latter part of the parashah is a narrative dealing with what happens subsequent to the giving of the ten commandments, how the people deal with Moses' absence (the golden calf story), and subsequent forgiveness (the second set of tablets). Many verses from this story entered our liturgy, especially of Yom Kippur (e.g., the thirteen attributes of God). The parashah ends with an amazing description of Moses' experience of God and the effects it had on him.

"In the Haftorah, Elijah the prophet challenges the worshippers of the god Ba'al: "How long will you tread on two doorposts? If the Jewish God is God, follow it; if Ba'al follow it!" (Obviously, Elijah did not support the path of the eclectic.)

"Elijah challenges the Ba'al worshippers to an open duel, and wins. (If only spirituality were so demonstrable!)

"The theme link between the parashah and the haftarah is the ongoing challenge to every person to continually select, discriminate, and choose the straighter path to God and discard the more illusory, more short-sighted path."

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